What's Privacy?

Back to G____ of the Entitled Genealogists Guild. 

For some reason, our library has had anyone doing research in the genealogy room sign in at the front desk.  When I began working at the library, the explanation I got was that tracking how many patrons used the room, as well as from where they travelled, helped with our funding.  Not the case.  So, a co-worker redesigned the sign-in form, getting rid of the patron's contact information.  However, the book was still on the counter, there for the world to see.  This disturbed me, as well as the librarian who'd redesigned the form.

In the interim, I took some time to actually go through the family files.  I'd already spent time cataloging all of the microfilm, rearranging the books, rebinding, etc.  You know, the fun stuff :)  But I hadn't gone through the family files.  HOLY CRAP!  Addresses!  Phone numbers!  I spent two days blacking out personal contact information (addresses & phone numbers, not names since it IS the genealogy room).  I killed three Sharpies in the process.  At the end of it, I felt pretty damn satisfied with my work.  But those damn books were still there.

I approached the director a few weeks ago, to ask about the books and voiced my concerns regarding patron privacy.  The books had been stored in a filing cabinet IN THE ROOM.  I found books from 1993.  I spent many days shredding sign in forms.  In fact, I still have a pile on my desk.  Which brings me back to G____.

G____ asked me for the old sign-in books, because he needed to look up someone's email address.  I informed him that the books no longer existed as sharing this information was against library policy as it violated our patrons' privacy.  He was indignant! 

G___:  When I go to ____, they copy my driver's license before I go in!
Me:  Yes, but do they share that information with other researchers?
G___: What?
Me:  Just like we don't share what books you check out with anyone, I have to respect patrons' privacy.
G___:  I don't understand.  What if I need to contact someone?
Me:  I'm sorry.  If someone asks me for your phone number, I can't look in our system for it.  If I can find you in the phone book, I can do that.  Otherwise, I can't use our system to give out information.  Thus, I can't put this information out for other people.
G___:  Hmph.  (walks away)

What I don't understand is this mine used to work for an archiving agency!  He should know about privacy policies!  Argh.  Nothing like telling someone that they can't do something when they think that they should.

Alert the Media!

One of my hats at work is resident genealogist.  It kind of fell into my lap when another librarian retired and no one wanted to take over the genealogy collection.  That's ok, though, because I really enjoy doing research.  In college, it was the research part of a paper that I loved.  Notsomuch when it came to writing the actual paper.

Anywho, genealogy.

We have all of the local papers on microfilm with the exception of the current year.  Those are kept on hard copy and then recycled once we have it on microfilm.  We USED to have ALL of the papers in hard copy, but they weren't ours.  As in, we stored them for the local historical society and could use them if someone requested the hard copy, but they didn't belong to us.

In cleaning out the storage room one day, I came across all of the papers.  The boxes and boxes.. and boxes of newspapers.  The poor storage room was bursting at the seams, so I asked the Director about them.  I was told they belonged to the historical society (I didn't know at that point, I just knew we had them all on microfilm and they were taking up way more space than we could afford to allocate to them).  I double checked with the assistant director and the lady who'd retired.  So, I called a member of the historical society, told him my dilemma and he said he'd come pick them all up and put them in storage with the rest of the items from the historical society.  Woo-hoo!

Fast forward a few months.  My boyfriend (who happens to work at said local newspaper) calls and tells me that he's received an email from someone claiming that the library has thrown all of the old papers away and they're now in the dump.  Uh, no.  So, I explain what happened to the papers while thinking "even if we did, if they'd belonged to us, it's our prerogative what we do with them!"  I tell the Director, just so she knows that the info is out there in case someone approaches her.

Fast forward another month.  I'm in the genealogy room, assisting a patron.  Then HE shows up.  HE is the genealogist who's in the library at least once a week, toting several bags of research.  He's promised us all of his research when he passes, so yeah, I try to be especially nice to the man.  However, he can be a pill when he wants to be.  Ok ok, he can be a giant pain in the ass.  We shall call him G____.

G____ makes a comment that it's a shame that we (meaning him) can't look through the hard copies of the newspapers anymore.  I remark that we have everything on microfilm and we just didn't have the room to store the papers anymore, so they're with the historical society.  He then tells me that another librarian has told him that the papers are in the dump.  WTF?  I text said librarian, we talk on the phone, and of course, this is not the case.  He told G____ that we had everything on microfilm so we got rid of them.  End of story.

Lovely.  So, I walk back into the genealogy room to set G____ straight.  He pops a gasket.  "Well he told me that you'd gotten rid of them!  What was I supposed to think?"

HOW ABOUT NOT JUMP TO CONCLUSIONS, YOU AGING TWAT!?!?

Ahem.  I explain again that the papers were not ours.  "When did that happen?  They were yours.  Why did the library claim them on their insurance when some of them were damaged?"

I dunno, why in the hell is it your business.

Double ahem.  I calmly tell him that I don't know.  This is what I was told.  I verified the info with three librarians and contacted the historical society.  End of story.  And please, don't jump to conclusions or AT LEAST VERIFY WITH THE PERSON IN CHARGE OF SAID MATERIALS.

I need a drink.

I'm sorry for your, um, loss?

A co-worker sent me the following last night. Yet another reason to love my fellow librarians:

------------------------------------------------
I have one for you.

A lady comes in today and hands me her movies. She says that she'd like to renew them because she didn't get to watch them, and they might just be a little late, because her husband DIED and they buried him YESTERDAY.

I was like "YOUR HUSBAND DIED? OH MY GOSH, I AM SOO SORRY!" (and I think, you're worried about not getting to watch your movies? How are you functioning?!? You just buried your husband!)

(It was about this time that I remember that the guy I was thinking of, who I first thought she meant, who I always see her with, may not have been her husband. I had heard that somewhere. Then I think...she had ANOTHER man somewhere?)

Her: *looking at me a bit strangely* "Yes, the funeral was yesterday..."
Me: "Of course we can take off those fines..." so, I start deleting them (although by then thinking that maybe I should make a note, because if she starts coming in with stories every time about how someone died just to get out of fines...)
Her: "You were looking a bit strange..."
Me: (thinking, I look strange? What's up with me today? Where is this conversation going?)
Her: "...when I said my husband died..."
Me: "Oh, I was just surprised, and wanted to tell you we were so sorry for your loss..."
Her: "oh...yeah..._____ is driving me around (the guy I had thought was dead, but who is apparently the boyfriend), I just feel like I'm in a fog...I'm going to go watch these movies..."

Jeez. Sorry for your loss, and that your poor deceased husband messed up your movie check-outs. Maybe now you'll get to go watch them interrupted.

Just How Many Books Do You Need?

Disclaimer:  Librarians LOVE avid readers.  They keep us employed.  They keep our collections current with requests for new authors or items we haven't heard of before.  They are generally the most awesome, courteous and gracious people that set foot in a library.  Generally.   But not all.

Policy-speak:  Libraries have limits set for how many items patrons can check out.  Ours is 15 total items, which can include any mix of the following:

• all regular check out books (aka 3 week books)
• four (4) 14-day books (new books, also includes audio & holiday books)
• four (4) DVDs per household
• four (4) music CDs
• magazines

Sound reasonable?  Most patrons never check out that many at one time.  Many seem surprised that we even allow them to have that many out at once.  Never have I had anyone complain about the limit.  Until Monday.

Lady and her husband(?) walk to the counter.  They have more books that I have ever seen anyone try to carry out of the library.  However, since I see two people AND two library cards, I think nothing of it.  I scan the first card.

Me:  Ma'am.  This seems to be your son's card.  Is he with you?
Patron:  No, he's not with me.
Me:  Hold on one second.  (Turn around with card in had to talk to Director.)  I just want to verify that she can't use her son's card if he's not with her.  Correct?
Boss Lady:  Correct.
Me:  (Turn back around to face patron.)  I'm sorry, ma'am, but you can't use this card unless your son is with you.  I see you have 8 audio books.  You'll have to put 4 of them back.
Patron:  (Very loud, annoyed sigh.)  Hmph.  (Plops down audio books and begins to go through them.)
Me:  Ma'am, can I have your card?

Patron flings card at me.
I proceed to begin scanning books as she (loudly) goes through her stack of audio books.  I notice there are still WAY too many items.

Me:  Ma'am, I've already scanned 10 books.  I know you want audio books, so that will be 14 items.  You're limited to 15.  Would you like to go through your books and magazines and weed out what you don't want?
Patron:  What do you mean?
Me:  There is a 15 item limit per patron on what can be checked out at one time.
Patron:  When did that start?????
Me:  That's always been our policy ma'am.
Patron:  I know I've checked out this much before!!!  (Shoves audio books toward me and begins flipping through magazines.)
Me:  I'm sorry, but the policy is 15 items and has been for a long time.

Patron slaps one magazine and book in front of me and shoves the items she can't check out to the side.  Amused co-worker picks up discarded item and places on book cart.  She's enjoying this WAY too much.  I finish scanning items, placing return date slips in a few and restack her pile.

Me:  There you go.  Your audio books are due ______ and other items are due ______.
Patron:  You just wait.  Next time I'll make sure I have my children with me!!!  (Storms out with her items and very quiet confused looking husband in tow.)

Thanks for threatening me with your children, lady.  Do they get to check out books that THEY want to read when they come or do you just use their cards to get your stuff?

Yes, we have no computers! We have no computers today!

Yesterday, after being closed for 9 days (8 business), the library reopened.  Not all of the books were put away, some shelves still needed to be moved, the genealogy room was still a mess and the computers weren't hooked up yet thanks to a disappearing electrician, but we reopened.  When we left the night before at 7:45, weary from moving furniture and shelving books, we wondered how many patrons would be patient with us and how many would wonder what in the hell took us so long.

Before opening, I called the local radio station to announce that yes, we would be open, but that the public computers would not be available.  Our director had also posted that information on the website, FaceBook and Twitter the night before.  How many people would get that info, we didn't know.  It appears the answer was NONE.

At 9am, I walked to the back door to unlock it.  Standing outside were three regulars, all of whom visited us primarily to utilize our computers.  Argh.  I looked at the door before unlocking it.  Yup, there was the sign that the director had put up, very clearly stating that the computers were not available, along with a very nice "no computer" graphic to go right along with it.  I shook my head and unlocked the door, opening it for them.

Me:  Hi, guys!
Patrons: (mumbling) Hi. (they begin to walk forward)
Me:  You DO know that the computers are down, right?
Patrons:  (brains melting) No.........  Will they be available tomorrow?
Me:  Don't know.  We hope so, but I can't promise anything.
Patrons: (puppy dog eyes telling me I'm killing them slowly) Uh, ok.  (shuffle away)

While they acted like kids who didn't get their way, they at least were respectful, somewhat dignified and understood that not everything goes the way we like.  This is in great contrast to the woman who stomped and bitched at the front desk, telling my coworkers that the electrician should have been working at night and that her bills would be late.  Seriously?  You don't have internet access at home and you pay your bills online?  Ok.  I'll try to forgive you for that.  But you can't PICK UP THE DAMN PHONE AND PAY YOUR BILLS OVER THE PHONE?  Or, even you knew we were closed and had already had to delay opening by two days, why didn't you WRITE A DAMN CHECK AND SPEND 44 CENTS TO MAIL IT?

My mother has accused me of being book smart and lacking common sense, but great googly moogly Batman, even I could figure that one out.

Wait.  Maybe I AM a mental giant!  Hot damn!

Jonesing for Germ-X

As mentioned in the previous post, we've been closed while we have new carpet installed.  And we're still having to tell people that we're closed.  Today, a lady came in and asked to copy something (man, people miss the damn copier, don't they?), I stopped a guy in the parking lot when I got to work (uh, we're closed... need to return those books?) and a guy walked in yesterday afternoon wanting to use a computer.  (He said this AFTER walking past the giant closed sign, seeing the moved furniture and seeing that the PCs were unplugged AND moved.  Moron.)  And we kicked out two people who'd walked into the back foyer and proceeded to look at the biographies that had been stacked on a table while we moved shelves. 

Me:  Sir?  I'm sorry, we're closed.
Patron:  Oh? (continues to look at books)
Me:  There's a big sign on the door stating that we're closed.
Patron:  Well, I walked right past it. (CONTINUES to look at books)
Me:  Sir.  You're going to have to leave. 
Patron:  Are these books for sale?
Me:  No, sir.  We have to move the books so we can move the shelves.  We're getting new carpet.
Patron.  (again) Oh.  (CONTINUES TO LOOK AT BOOKS)
Me:  Sir.  I'm sorry, you have to leave.
Patron:  Oh.  Uh, okay.

OMFG. 

We've been blessed to have the help of some of the inmates from the local jail.  Most of the guys have been busting their asses helping - scraping the carpet pad off the floor, hauling garbage to the dumpster, moving furniture, etc.  Pretty much, they do anything they're asked, as they're just happy to be out of the jail for a few hours.  We've had several different crews in for projects, but have gotten a few guys multiple times.  All in all, most of them are good guys who did something stupid and got caught.

Then there was the grizzly guy.  The only one who gave me the heebie jeebies.  But ya know, life goes and you do your own thing.  Until you're told that this same guy was spiking his coffee.  We kept coffee going for the guys, also letting them have soda, cookies, pizza, and more.  Apparently that wasn't enough for old grizzly.  He was making himself a cup of coffee and then spiking it with Germ-X, trying to get high. 

Um, EWW. 

He was reported to the guard in charge (the dude sitting on the other side of the library, not paying attention to his charges) and we hid the Germ-X.  Never a dull moment at the library!

We're closed. No, really. WE ARE CLOSED.

I worry about people.  Seriously.  Since mid-December, our library has had signs up, stating that we would be closed this week for the installation of new carpet.  These signs were posted on the front door, the rear door and at the circulation desk.  In addition, our tech-savvy director posted the notice repeatedly on our Twitter feed and FaceBook pages.  Notices were also on the local radio station, the community calendar on the local tv station and in the paper as a great column written by the director, as well.  Oh, one great librarian even made little bookmarks with a calendar printed on them, all dates we'd be closed marked clearly.  We passed them out to our patrons as they checked out books, asked questions, etc.  All bases covered, right?

Wrong.

Even though we're closed, most of us will be working all week.  Many of us reported to work today to move books, move furniture, weed books, etc.  Not long after we would have opened, the people started showing up (even with the ginormous dumpster in the parking lot).  The back door doesn't always latch, so some patrons even made it inside, but turned away rather amicably when we explained (again) that we were closed.  We then figured that the problem would rectify itself when patrons would be forced to read the signs!  AHA!

Nope.

The back door had to be unlocked since carpet and carpet pad scraps were being hauled to the dumpster.  Oh no!  Even with furniture scattered, books piled high on book carts near the door, completely empty shelves AND carpet being ripped up around the circulation desk, patrons now proceeded to walk all the way to the front desk and look around.  Several apologized and walked away once they were informed that we were closed.  Some even said "oh yeah, I remember hearing/seeing/reading that."  Yet, none of them stopped of their own volition.  They had to be told by a librarian that we were, in fact, closed and not just going for the shabby chic look.

Then, there was the older gentleman who walked past all of the tornadic activity to where the copier usually stays.  (I should point out that it's location is the beginning point of where carpet was being torn up.)  He looked at the empty spot.  He then looked around at the workers ripping up carpet.

Patron:  Where's the copier?
Co-worker: I'm sorry sir, we're closed. 
Patron: So, I can't make any copies?
Co-worker:  Sorry, sir, we're closed this week.  (points to nearly naked floor) We're getting new carpet.
Patron:  Why can't I use the copier?

I wish I'd been there.  I got the replay from our teen librarian who thought it was me telling the dude to leave.  Alas, no.  After that, I found the gigantic pad of paper, wrote "CLOSED - Will Re-open Next Week" in very large letters and placed it on the back door (next to the other sign already stating that we were closed).  A while later, I was near the back door and saw a mother and daughter standing at the back door, looking at the sign.  I opened the door:

Me:  Sorry, ma'am we're closed this week.  New carpet.
Mother: Oh, I think I remember hearing that on the radio. (continues to stare at sign)
Me:  Do you need to return those books?
Mother:  Oh yes.  I thought the book drop was back here.
Me:  No ma'am.  The book drop is at the front door.  (takes books from mother and daughter)  It's always been there. 

After that, I took the sign down and added "Please return books next week."  Did I mention that we made sure that no books would be due while we're closed?  The rest of this week should be interesting.